17 December 1944
The Division, engaged in normal training activities near RHEIMS, FRANCE, was alerted at 1900 hours to move
into combat the following day (18 Dec 44) . At 2100 hours a movement order was received directing the
Division to move by motor at 180900 from base camps and to concentrate in the vicinity of BASTOGNE, BELGIUM,
where further instructions would be forthcoming . From general information available then, there appeared to be a serious GERMAN penetration
in the VIII CORPS sector .

18 December 1944
The Division’s leading serials left the base camps at SISSONNE and SUIPPES, FRANCE, at 0900 hours . Combat
team component march units met at SEDAN, FRANCE and proceeded toward BASTOGNE, BELGIUM . At SPRIMONT, BELGIUM, the head of the Division column
was directed to proceed to WERBOMONT . Higher Headquarters had then decided that the Division would hold the Northern flank of the penetration
and the 101st Airborne Division, the Southern flank at BASTOGNE . Roads were clogged with vehicles and
refugees . The location of the German advance breakthrough elements was uncertain . A screening force from the 119th
Infantry Regiment (30th Inf Div) was deployed in the vicinity of HABIEMONT to cover the assembly of the Division . The leading
serial arrived at WERBOMONT at 1730 hours . Defensive positions were organized without delay by each unit
upon its arrival . Security and reconnaissance measures were established at once .

19 December 1944
The Division closed in the WERBOMONT area by 1000 hours . Defensive positions were improved progressively .

325th Glider Infantry – the 3d Battalion established roadblocks in the vicinity of BARVAUX . F Company
occupied GRANDMENIL and MANHAY504th Parachute Infantry – occupied RAHIER and relieved elements of the 119th Infantry
(30th Inf Div) in its sector505th Parachute Infantry – occupied BASSE-BODEUX and relieved elements of the 119th
Infantry (30th Inf Div) in its sector508th Parachute Infantry – H Company occupied a crossroad just north of FLORET

20 December 1944

325th Glider Infantry – the 1st Battalion occupied a defensive position in the vicinity of BRA . The 3d
Battalion was relieved in the BARVAUX area by elements of the 3d Armored Division . The 2d Battalion, less F
Company, was in Division Reserve . F Company continued to occupy GRANDMENIL and MANHAY504th Parachute Infantry – the 1st Battalion, less A Company, attacked CHENEUX at 1400
hours . A heavy engagement ensued with a battalion of the 1st SS Panzer Division supported by tanks,
flak wagons, and artillery . A Company took positions in the vicinity of BRUME505th Parachute Infantry – pushed out to the SALM RIVER along the line TROIS-PONTS – COURNAIMONT, south of
GRAND-HALLEUX and relieved elements of the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion at TROIS-PONTS . One Company held
the bridge at HOURT . One Platoon crossed the river near TROIS-PONTS . Another Platoon crossed at LA TOUR ;508th Parachute Infantry – began moving by foot and by motor to the vicinity of GORONNE

325th Glider Infantry – closed in the area southwest of LIERNEUX and occupied the sector SART – HEBRONVAL .
One Platoon of F Company occupied REGNE . Patrols advanced as far south as BIHAIN504th Parachute Infantry – 1st Battalion, less A Company, had cleared CHENEUX by mid-morning, capturing 14
flak wagons, 6 half-tracks, 4 trucks, 4 105mm howitzers, and 1 Mark IV tank . 3d Battalion, less G Company, attacked and captured MONCEAU
against strong enemy resistance and assisted 1st Battalion by swinging north of CHENEUX . The 1st Battalion, plus G Company, consolidated
positions in CHENEUX and then with the 3d Battalion, attacked and drove the enemy across the AMBLEVE RIVER and established positions on the
south bank of the river505th Parachute Infantry – two Companies of the 2d Battalion crossed the SALM RIVER at TROIS-PONTS and
established a bridgehead508th Parachute Infantry – closed in its area southeast of GORONNE and occupied the sector VIELSALM – GRAND
SART

22 December 1944
Troops of the 7th Armored Division, the 106th Infantry Division, the
28th Infantry Division, and CCB, 9th Armored Division began to withdraw
through the Division’s lines

325th Glider Infantry – 2d Battalion occupied FRAITURE . F Company occupied the main crossroad southeast of
MANHAY and contacted the 3d Armored Division . 5 enemy tanks and two enemy patrols were repelled in the vicinity of
JUBIEVAL by artillery . 125 enemy vehicles, including armor, were reported in OTTRE . Friendly artillery fired on the town . Two enemy
infantry attempts to form up for attack were both stopped by 155mm fire . OTTRE was a mass of smouldering ruins504th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion relieved the 1st Battalion . Contact with the
119th Infantry Regiment (30th Inf Div) was established505th Parachute Infantry – 2d Battalion bridgehead across the SALM RIVER at TROIS-PONTS was attacked by a
battalion of the 1st SS Panzer Division, supported by armor and artillery . 2d Battalion forces were
consequently withdrawn and the bridge was blown . Two enemy squads infiltrated into TROIS-PONTS but were driven back across the SALM RIVER .
3d Battalion repulsed an enemy platoon attempt to cross the SALM RIVER at LA TOUR and another two-platoon effort in the G Company sector .
1st and 3d Battalion bridgeheads at GRAND-HALLEUX and LA NEUVILLE were established508th Parachute Infantry – organized defensive positions from VIELSALM to SALMCHATEAU and to GRAND SART .
1st Battalion was placed in Division Reserve . Patrols reported German columns moving in a steady stream through PETITE LANGLIRE towards
OTTRE307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – blew the bridge at ROCHELINVAL . An officer patrol dispatched to PETITE
LANGLIRE blew a vital bridge over the RONCE stream which was being used by the enemy

23 December 1944
Troops and vehicles of the 7th Armored Division, the 106th Infantry Division,
the 28th Infantry Division, and CCB, 9th Armored Division continued to withdraw
through Division lines

325th Glider Infantry – 2d Battalion drove back several enemy probing attacks . A composite force consisting
of F Company, 325th Gli Inf Regt, and tanks of the 3d Armored Division was attacked by a strong enemy force
at the main crossroad southeast of MANHAY . Two Platoons of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion joined the
composite force . At 1630 hours, after a very effective mortar and artillery preparation, an estimated infantry battalion with tanks of the
2nd SS Panzer Division attacked . Enemy tanks shelled the crossroad with deadly effect, while enemy infantry
overran the defenders . F Company was forced to withdraw . 1st Battalion lost and re-established an outpost at JUBIEVAL . 3d Battalion
captured an enemy document in OTTRE that contained plans for the attack to LIEGE504th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion, relieved by the 1st Battalion, moved into position as Division
Reserve in the vicinity of LIERNEUX and the latter was moved southwest of MALEMPRE to meet an enemy threat . The 1st Battalion took over the
sectors of the 2d Battalion, 504th Prcht Inf Regt and the 2d Battalion, 505th Prcht Inf Regt505th Parachute Infantry – the Regiment continued to defend the SALM RIVER line against determined, well
supported attacks of the 1st SS Panzer Division . Except for patrols, all elements of the 505th Prcht Inf Regt
were located on the west bank of the river508th Parachute Infantry – repulsed an enemy attack directed towards SALMCHATEAU from the STE MAIRE –
PROVEDROUX area . Enemy forces were estimated as a battalion of infantry supported by Mark III tanks . The three bridges at SALMCHATEAU and
the railroad bridge at VIELSALM were blown . 1st Battalion reverted to Regimental control . The 3d Battalion, 112th
Infantry Regiment (28th Inf Div) was attached307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – executed demolition of stone culvert 1 ½ miles south of SALMCHATEAU
after the last vehicle of the 7th Armored Division had passed14th Tank Battalion (CCB, 9th Armd Div) – attached to Division . Company C established a roadblock at the
MANHAY crossroads

24 December 1944
The last elements of the 7th Armored Division were withdrawn through Division lines . Division was ordered
by XVIII A/B Corps to withdraw under cover of darkness to a defense line extending from TROIS-PONTS –
BASSE-BODEUX – EN BERGIFA – DRI-LE-CHESLIN . Regiments were ordered to delay enemy until 00400 December 25 with a covering shell

325th Glider Infantry – 2d Battalion with strong enemy pressure on both flanks withdrew from FRAITURE and
took up a position in BOIS HOUBI after killing at least 50 enemy and routing the remainder . One Platoon, holding REGNE, was overrun by enemy
infantry and armor . B Company, supported by a tank company of the 14th Tank Battalion (9th Armd Div),
recaptured the town and ejected the enemy504th Parachute Infantry – the 3d Battalion, less G Company, moved into position southwest of LIERNEUX and
there repulsed a strong enemy attack505th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion moved north to intercept an enemy force estimated at 800 enemy
reported to be attempting a crossing of the SALM RIVER toward the east . I Company was attacked by an estimated enemy company who were trying
to withdraw across the river, most of them were destroyed . Initiated withdrawal as per plan508th Parachute Infantry – the highway bridge at VIELSALM was blown / The covering shell was attacked by an
enemy battalion, strongly supported by artillery and mortar fire307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – upon receipt of the withdrawal order, prepared extensive obstacles on the
defense line, mined approaches, and prepared bridges and culverts on the withdrawal routes for demolition14th Tank Battalion – C Company was relieved at the MANHAY roadblock by elements of the 7th Armored Division . The enemy attacked in force and captured MANHAY

25 December 1944
All units successfully broke contact with the enemy and withdrew to the new defense line

325th Glider Infantry – the 1st Battalion filled the gap between the 504th Prcht Inf Regt and the
7th Armored Division by occupying DRI-LE-CHESLIN and VAUX-CHAVANNE . At 2200 hours an enemy infantry attack was repulsed . The 2d
Battalion as Division Reserve and the 3d Battalion as Regimental Reserve occupied positions near AU-HETRE504th Parachute Infantry – 2d and 3d Battalions occupied new positions along the line EN BERGIFA – BRA –
VAUX-CHAVANNE . The 1st Battalion, in Regimental Reserve, vicinity of BRA505th Parachute Infantry – the 2d and 3d Battalions now occupied new defensive positions between TROIS-PONTS
and BASSE-BODEUX . 1st Battalion occupied a position 3000 yards north of BASSE-BODEUX as Regimental Reserve508th Parachute Infantry – occupied new defensive positions along the line HAUTE-BODEUX – EN BERGIFA with
all Battalions on the MLR . The 3d Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment (28th Inf Div) was relieved of attachment
to the 508th Prcht Inf Regt307th Airborne Engineer Battalion – laid minefields, constructed abatis, and blew bridges to form a barrier
along the Division front

325th Glider Infantry – at 0630 hours one battalion of the 2d SS Panzer Division attacked and succeeded in overrunning a portion of the sector . B Company and C Company promptly counterattacked and restored all
positions, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy . The 1st Battalion was relieved by the 23d Armored Infantry
Battalion (7th Armd Div), and moved to an area northeast of DRI-LE-CHESLIN504th Parachute Infantry – the 2d Battalion broke up two enemy attacks launched by the 9th SS Panzer Division from the vicinity of FLORET505th Parachute Infantry – patrolled aggressively . Sector generally quiet508th Parachute Infantry – 2d Battalion repulsed an enemy attack near road junction west of REHARMONT by an
estimated two companies of infantry, supported by 4 half-tracks . 3d Battalion outposts repulsed attack by enemy infantry

27 December 1944

325th Glider Infantry – the 2d Battalion, Division Reserve, moved to a position approximately 1000 yards
south of MOUCHENOULLE504th Parachute Infantry – 3d Battalion extended MLR slightly to the southeast . The 2d Battalion knocked
out an enemy flak wagon near EN BERGIFA505th Parachute Infantry – 3d Battalion received heavy artillery fire throughout the day . A Company and B
Company, moved to new areas in the rear of the 3d Battalion508th Parachute Infantry – F Company and G Company were attacked by an estimated two battalions of infantry
of the 9th SS Panzer Division at 0120 . G Company was partially overrun . Enemy infiltrated to ERRIA . I
Company committed to aid G Company in destroying and ejecting the enemy . E Company, less 1 Platoon, mopped up the town of ERRIA and the
entire sector was cleared by 0430 . Enemy casualties were heavy551st Parachute Infantry Battalion – attacked at 2300 towards limited objectives ODRIMONT and AMCOMONT

29 December 1944
There were NO major attacks along any of the Regimental fronts . All units improved their defensive positions and patrolled aggressively to
the front . The 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion placed additional minefields . The
740th Tank Battalion was attached

30 December 1944
There was very little enemy activity along the Division front . All units maintained and strengthened their defensive positions and patrolled
vigorously to the front . Division Artillery fired on enemy concentrations . 2d Battalion, 325th Glider Infantry
Regiment closed into new positions east of TROU-DE-BRA . The 307th Airborne Engineer Battalion
continued to place more minefields . The 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment conducted combined
infantry-tank-tank destroyer-engineer training in the vicinity of CHENEUX

31 December 1944
Enemy activity was again very light along the Division front . The Regiments patrolled vigorously to the front and contacted the enemy in the
vicinity of FLORET and XHOUTE-SI-PLOUT . The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment continued their combined
training . The 740th Tank Battalion sent two patrols, each consisting of 3 tanks and Division Reconnaissance
Platoon men to reconnoiter south of the DRI-LE-CHESLIN, ERRIA, and TROIS-PONTS; 2 enemy soldiers were killed and 9 captured

NOTE :
In January 1945, the Division with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment attached, regrouped in preparation for
offensive attacks to protect the left flank of VII Corps . The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment and the attached 517th Prcht Inf Regt assumed responsibility for the
entire Division front . The 325th Glider Infantry Regiment and the 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment closed in forward assembly areas in preparation for the attack . The 628th Tank Destroyer
Battalion is attached to Division, relieving the 703d TD Bn which passes to Corps control . Meanwhile the 75th
Infantry Division assumes tactical control of the 504th Prcht Inf Regt . The attack, to be launched as from January 3, 1945 will
also include the 80th Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion as well as the 307th
Airborne Engineer Battalion . Other elements also involved, and attached at a given period of time, were the
551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, B Company, 86th Chemical Battalion, B
Company and C Company, 643d Tank Destroyer Battalion, the 32d Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron,
and the 740th Tank Battalion … followed by additional temporarily attached units, such as the
629th Tank Destroyer Battalion, and the 634th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons
Battalion …

XVIIIth AIRBORNE CORPS – originally constituted from the II Armored Corps October 9, 1943,
at Cp. Bowie, Texas . Redesignated as HHC, XVIII Corps and activated at the Presidio of Monterey, Calif., hence relocated to Cp. Bowie, Texas . Relocated
to FCt. Dupont, Delaware in 1944 . Deployed overseas August 17, 1944 to Ogbourne St. George, England . Redesignated as XVIII Airborne
Corps . Campaigns Rhineland-Ardennes-Alsace-Central Europe, no D.I. authorized, Commander Major General Matthew B. RIDGWAY August 1944, special shoulder patch (blue/white dragon with Airborne tab in same colors) . Reorganized as Headquarters & Headquarters Co. and
subsequently assigned to the First Allied Airborne Army, it provided logistical and technical planning expertise for “Operation
Market” (i.e. the airborne phase), Forward Headquarters relocated to Epernay, France, and later to Werbomont, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge, back to France for preparation and coordination of the Rhine crossing “Operation Varsity”,
Wesel, Germany, including units as the British 6th Airborne Division and the US 17th Airborne Division . Assigned to First Army, with operational command
of 8th, 78th, 86th and 97th Infantry Divisions 13th Armored Division, later briefly attached to British Second Army, with command of the British 6th
Airborne Division, the 82nd Airborne Division, and the 8th Infantry Division . Redeployed to the ZI in 1945 . Inactivated from 1945 to 1951 . Reactivated
as XVIII Airborne Corps at Ft. Bragg, N.C., May 21, 1951, under command of General John W. LEONARD, and assigned to the U.S. Army Strike Command …

My outfit, I Company, 3d Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment , (CO > Captain Archibald A. McPHEETERS, Jr., later KIA at Fosse, 3 Jan 45) part of the 82d Airborne Division (the
most experienced Airborne outfit of WWII), normally consisting of approximately 8 officers and 140 men, came into the
“Battle of the Bulge” as a well-trained and experienced Parachute Infantry combat unit ! “OKITE”,
(> I Co’s radio callsign) was not at its full strength (about 15% down in personnel) when it occupied Rochelinval, Belgium, and took up
defensive positions along the railroad pit by the Salm River the night of December 20, 1944 . While I Co, had
not sustained too heavy losses in Sicily (July 43) and Italy (September 43), it lost two-thirds of its men, either killed or wounded, during
the 33 days of severe fighting in Normandy (June-July 44), from Sainte-Mère-Eglise to La-Haye-du-Puits . The casualties suffered during the
Holland campaign (September 44) were light . It can be fairly stated that about 90% of I Company’s troopers
had had at least one previous combat experience …

Sgt. William "Bill" H. Tucker, I Co / 505th PIR, taken around end July - early August 44, upon return to England
from the Normandy Campaign ...Click image to enlarge

The 3 Squad Leaders of Second Platoon, were Sergeants Charlie Matash, Larry Leonard, and myself, Bill Tucker – the former 2 were original
members, and I got assigned to I Co, after the Sicily jump, back in 1943 . We were hurriedly rushed into
Belgium, as part of the 82d Abn Div, because of the surprise German Counter-Offensive (which started December
16, 1944), and were supposed to help hold the battle line along the eastern side of the Salm River (roughly running from Trois-Ponts-
Rochelinval-Grand-Halleux-to Vielsalm) . The main objective was to stop the German westward advance ! (a later American occupant of
Rochelinval would be the 551st Parachute Infantry Battalion, temporarily attached to the “
All American” during the Battle of the Bulge) .

On December 21, Kampfgruppe Hansen’s First SS Panzergrenadierregiment and elements of the
Ninth SS Panzerdivision “Hohenstaufen” attacked the 505th Prcht Inf Regt’s Second Battalion
at Trois-Ponts, but were repulsed after hard fighting . The Hansen Battlegroup then went north, but elements of the Ninth SS swung south from
Wanne, heading for “OKITE’s” river crossings … Our rifle squads were well dug in on the west bank and
maintained outposts on the east bank of the Salm River . The steep hill going up from the railroad to the village was also busy, a dirt road
connecting Rochelinval to Bergeval and Dairomont was used to bring in supplies – a 57mm antitank gun with full crew (pertaining to the
80th Abn AA Bn) was dug in at the first house – the 60mm mortar crew was at the top point of the village itself where it could
fire on sight (this however involved constantly hiking up and down the hill for me) . As I got back to the CP, the afternoon was turning to
darkness, I stopped to check the .30 caliber LMG position (about 50 yds across from the river, and some 75 yds from a bend in the road coming
from the east), when suddenly we heard the rumble of tanks, and men yelling – several black-clad Germans came around the bend, in front of a
huge enemy tank . They quickly picked up our Atk mines and threw them aside – then, our machinegun crew opened up – the German tank swung its
turret toward it and while I dove into the nearest depression, the shell exploded nearby, missing me but badly wounding the gunner (Pvt
Maglothin), and his assistant (Pvt Augustine) .

57mm antitank gun of the 80th Abn AA Bn in action, during the Battle of the Bulge, Belgium, Dec 44Click image to enlarge

After this first skirmish with I Co, the enemy wasted no time in making a rush for the wooden vehicle bridge
– which, luckily was blown up along with a German tracked vehicle ! Firefights followed across the River, from one side to the other . The
Germans tried to find ‘soft’ spots along I Company’s Second and Third Platoon defenses above the Salm River.
“OKITE’s” 60mm Mortar Squad being located on top of the hill at Rochelinval, allowed us to watch the attack
develop, and from our shed we had a good field of fire and fair visibility – we had already calculated targets and had plenty of ammo
available – we then poured it on as soon as the attack began and moved our firing target points from bridge to bridge across the River . The
German tanks could see our mortars’ sparks and flashes and tried to annihilate us by cannon fire, the elevation was not high enough from
their position, although they could pound the house where our 57mm gun was firing . Instead they fired a steady stream of 40mm shells
directly at us and mangled our shed – I had only one man slightly wounded – we kept firing inside the woods where the enemy tanks had stopped,
with rather good results, and felt pretty safe up there on the hill – but, finally we had to quit, when the Company runner came up and told
us the Major and Captain ordered us to cease fire, before the German 40mm guns totally obliterated the Company’s CP and everyone up on the
hill, except my own mortar crew !!!

Spasmodic firing continued along the River at night, and the Germans again attempted to cross it, without success . We found out just how
‘thin’ our Division’s lines were, when we learned that our Regimental Commander (> Colonel William E. EKMAN)
had given orders to gather up all HQ personnel, supply people, cooks, clerks and to form them into a ‘combat group’ to fill in where needed …
as the days faded toward Christmas,I Company had held fast and secured Rochelinval for 4 days already . By
Christmas, Rochelinval was I Co’s village, but it was soon to become a targeted crossing point for Jochen
Peiper’s SS Kampfgruppe, and it would later become a final battle site for another crack unit of Paratroopers (551st
Prcht Inf Bn) ...

German PWs captured by the 82d Abn Div - for them the war is over ! , Bulge, Dec 44 Click image to enlarge

During late morning of December 24, 1944, Captain Archie McPHEETERS, Jr. received the order to pull back from the Salm
River, all the way to Basse-Bodeux . Word ‘came down’ that despite protests from Generals M.B. RIDGWAY and
J.M. GAVIN, Field Marshal B.L. Montgomery had ordered a major pullback of the 82d Abn Div
to ‘tidy up the lines’ – We were furious ! We held a secure, almost impregnable position, centered at Rochelinval along the
Salm River, and had beaten off major elements of a German SS Panzer Division ! All our 3 Platoons held the high ground … the idea of giving
up captured ground to ‘tidy up the battlefield’ was never accepted by the ranks of the 82d Abn – it was outrageous ! But orders are orders,
and they are meant to be carried out ! It was planned to move the main body of I Co, assisted by 2 trucks (for ammo
& supplies) at about 2000 on Christmas eve . Part of Second Platoon (about 10 men) was to provide a rearguard at both the River line and the
Railroad until first light – the three 60mm Mortar Squads were ordered to be united into one sole operating group (as in Holland, and despite
narrow roads and thick woods) . I was to supervise all 3 mortar gunners, hoping that the radios would work in case a fight developed, and
that they would remain fully operational in this hilly and wooded terrain … With everything in place, I Company
moved up the road in the direction of Basse-Bodeux in good order – with about 8 miles to go, they crossed the open area thru the snow and
started over the backside of the first hill in the deep woods – when suddenly firing started up front and on both sides of the column .
Captain Archie McPHEETERS, Jr. left me with the mortars and moved ahead . I was called by radio and asked for mortar fire
to hit 300 yds ahead on each side of the road . The mortars did the job and pulverized Jochen Peiper’s people ahead . Our CO kept moving the
column forward, while the 3 mortars kept firing at each stop, even though limited to forward firing in order to clear the trees . The column
took some hits from the flank, but luckily without too many casualties . The fight didn’t last long, I Company
knifed thru what was left of the main elements of Kampfgruppe Peiper trying to get back to the Fatherland . In the process, “OKITE” picked up several prisoners . The escaped Major Hal D. McCown (2d Battalion Commander, 119th Infantry Regiment / 30th Infantry Division, captured near Stoumont, Dec 21, 1944), being taken
back with the Germans, took off in the fighting and later joined up with I Co .
As the retreating column cleared the woods near Basse-Bodeux, it set up a line of strong points on the snowy hills around the village – the
snow continued to fall steadily, and the troopers hoped they would see their rearguard again . That proved to be the case, but not without
some losses and hardships – in falling snow - over the railroad bridge - and up the hill toward Rochelinval – amidst desperate enemy troops …

As a beautiful white Christmas day dawned, I Company, now with its reargard back from the Salm defense line,
settled along the snowy hills around Basse-Bodeux . We all thought, our Company might at least have a few days of peace and rest before it
had to go back to retake the ground it never wanted to give up !

By the way, the 551st Prcht Inf Bn was to fight its very last bloody battle on the bluffs of Rochelinval,
Jan 7, 1945, thereby sustaining heavy casualties and also losing its CO, Lieutenant Colonel Wood G. JOERG, O-20793 !